Councilman Kevin Faulconer finished first in Tuesday's special election to replace former Mayor Bob Filner, capturing 89,043 votes as the sole Republican candidate. Because no one got more than 50 percent, the top two finishers move on to a runoff expected to take place in mid-February or later.

Fletcher said he wishes the two candidates the best and quipped that he wished he could have attracted a few more votes.

"I wanted to be the mayor, and I wanted to be the mayor that really led and advanced our city," Fletcher said. "We came up a little bit short."

Appearing relaxed and comfortable, Fletcher said he believed that the split in labor and Democratic Party forces between him and Alvarez will quickly heal.

He said the fact that the GOP and the labor each targeted him with negative advertising and messaging was a major factor in his showing. But he said he remained true to his beliefs.

“Every day I went out and did what I thought was in the best interests in the people of San Diego,” he said.

His support from an array of Democratic officials was important, he said, but his recent switch from independent to Democrat came too quickly for many rank and file party members to trust he would be an advocate for their positions.

Fletcher said that his time as Marine, his tenure in the assembly and his mayoral run this year and last represented substantial investment in public life. Spending more time with his family and two young children is now his most important priority, he said.

“You can make a difference in a lot of different ways,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be in public life or elected office.”

He said he will return to his job at Qualcomm and his professorship at UC San Diego.